Java super keyword

In our previous discussions, we have learnt about this keyword in Java. In this article we will see ‘What is super keyword in Java’. We will walk through all possible scenarios to use ‘super’ keyword in Java programming.

Usage of super keyword

1. super() invokes the constructor of the parent class.
2. super.variable_name refers to the variable in the parent class.
3. super.method_name refers to the method of the parent class.

Let’s discuss those things in detail

1. super() invokes the constructor of the parent class

super() will invoke the constructor of the parent class.Before getting into that we will go through the default behavior of the compiler. Even when you don’t add super() keyword the compiler will add one and will invoke the Parent Class constructor.

class ParentClass
{
	public ParentClass()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class default Constructor");
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	public SubClass()
	{
		System.out.println("Child Class default Constructor");
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
	}
}

Output

Parent Class default Constructor
Child Class default Constructor

Even when we add explicitly also it behaves the same way as it did before.

class ParentClass
{
	public ParentClass()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class default Constructor");
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	public SubClass()
	{
                super();
		System.out.println("Child Class default Constructor");
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
	}
}

Output

Parent Class default Constructor
Child Class default Constructor

You can also call the parameterized constructor of the Parent Class. For example, super(10) will call parameterized constructor of the Parent class.

class ParentClass
{
	public ParentClass()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class default Constructor called");
	}
	public ParentClass(int val)
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class parameterized Constructor, value: "+val);
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	public SubClass()
	{
		super();//Has to be the first statement in the constructor
		System.out.println("Child Class default Constructor called");
	}
	public SubClass(int val)
	{
		super(10);
		System.out.println("Child Class parameterized Constructor, value: "+val);
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		//Calling default constructor
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		//Calling parameterized constructor
		SubClass s1 = new SubClass(10);
	}
}

Output

Parent Class default Constructor called
Child Class default Constructor called
Parent Class parameterized Constructor, value: 10
Child Class parameterized Constructor, value: 10

2. super.variable_name refers to the variable in the parent class

Let’s look into the below example, here we have the same variable in both parent and subclass

class ParentClass
{
	int val=999;
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	int val=123;
	
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Value is : "+val);
	}
	
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		s.disp();
	}
}

Output

Value is : 123

This will call only the val of the sub class only. Without super keyword, you cannot call the val which is present in the Parent Class.

class ParentClass
{
	int val=999;
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	int val=123;
	
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Value is : "+super.val);
	}
	
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		s.disp();
	}
}

Output

Value is : 999

3. super.method_nae refers to the method of the parent class

When you override the Parent Class method in the Child Class without super keywords support you will not be able to call the Parent Class method. Let’s look into the below example

class ParentClass
{
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class method");
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Child Class method");
	}
	
	public void show()
	{
		disp();
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		s.show();
	}
}

Output:

Child Class method

Here we have overridden the Parent Class disp() method in the SubClass and hence SubClass disp() method is called. If we want to call the Parent Class disp() method also means then we have to use the super keyword for it.

class ParentClass
{
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class method");
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Child Class method");
	}
	
	public void show()
	{
		//Calling SubClass disp() method
		disp();
		//Calling ParentClass disp() method
		super.disp();
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		s.show();
	}
}

Output

Child Class method
Parent Class method

When there is no method overriding then by default Parent Class disp() method will be called.

class ParentClass
{
	public void disp()
	{
		System.out.println("Parent Class method");
	}
}
public class SubClass extends ParentClass
{
	public void show()
	{
		disp();
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
	{
		SubClass s = new SubClass();
		s.show();
	}
}

Output

Parent Class method